Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD — Study Online from Tokyo, Japan

Transform your ambition into impact without leaving Tokyo. The Executive Diploma in Advanced Research / PhD, delivered in exclusive partnership between University of Gloucestershire and Robert Kennedy College, empowers you to deepen your expertise and elevate your leadership through rigorous, internationally applicable research. Earn a respected British award while building the analytical confidence, critical thinking, and scholarly voice to influence decisions at the highest levels.

Designed for driven professionals, this programme brings world-class academic standards to your schedule and your city. Learn fully online, move at a focused pace—often in as little as 3–6 months—and benefit from faculty mentorship, open‑book assessments, and a truly global peer group. From Tokyo’s dynamic business hubs to your favourite cafe, your study journey fits the way you live and work today.

Awarded a British Degree Recognised Internationally

When you complete this programme, you receive a respected British award, underpinned by rigorous academic standards and global credibility. This recognition opens doors across borders, enabling you to present your expertise with confidence to employers, boards, and institutions worldwide.

For professionals looking to accelerate their careers in multinational environments or to pivot into research-driven roles, an internationally recognised British credential signals quality, integrity, and readiness to contribute at a high level.

Complete 100% Online in as Little as 3–6 Months

Your time is valuable. The programme is structured to be completed fully online and, for many, within 3–6 months. This focused pathway helps you build research capability quickly, so you can apply your learning to current projects and strategic initiatives without delay.

The concise, purpose-built curriculum prioritises depth, relevance, and practical application. You will progress through milestones that make your advancement clear and motivating—while keeping your professional and personal commitments intact.

No Mandatory Live Attendance

Life and leadership rarely follow a rigid timetable. That’s why the programme does not require your presence online at specific times or dates. You choose when to engage with lectures, readings, and assignments, making it possible to study around work, family, and travel.

This asynchronous model ensures you are never penalised for time zones or unexpected schedule changes. Your focus stays on mastering concepts and advancing your research—not on meeting a clock.

Study Anywhere—Even Offline via Mobile App

From Tokyo’s commuter trains to international business trips, learning can go wherever you go. Our mobile app allows you to download study materials and watch lectures offline, so you can keep momentum when you are on the move.

Whether you prefer to study at home, at the office, or between meetings, you will have the flexibility to engage deeply with your coursework in the moments that suit you best.

Open-Book Assessments that Reflect Real-World Research

Instead of classical question/answer exams, you will undertake open‑book assessments that mirror how research and decision-making work in practice. This approach emphasises synthesis, critical analysis, and evidence-based reasoning over memorisation.

Open‑book work encourages you to integrate literature, frameworks, and data sources into sophisticated outputs—skills that translate directly to board-level briefings, white papers, policy notes, and scholarly writing.

Faculty Educated at World-Renowned Universities

Learn with tutors and faculty who have graduated from distinguished institutions such as Oxford, Harvard, EPFL, University of Basel, and Washington University in St. Louis. Their academic pedigree, combined with practical experience, brings depth and relevance to every interaction.

You will benefit from personalised feedback, mentoring, and guidance that sharpen your research question, methodology, and scholarly contribution—ensuring your work meets demanding standards and real-world needs.

A Diverse Global Cohort and Far-Reaching Alumni

Join a learning community that spans more than 130 countries. Your peers will bring perspectives from multiple industries and regions, enriching discussions and collaboration with lived insight from across the globe. These professional relationships can become a lasting source of partnership, opportunity, and support.

Our alumni work for international organisations including Mitsubishi Power, University of Tsukuba, Honda, United Nations, Google, ICRC, The World Bank, Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, Tencent, Siemens, and Sony—demonstrating the breadth of roles and sectors where this qualification can make a difference.

Flexible, Interest‑Free Instalments

Invest in your growth with a payment structure that supports your planning. Our fees can be paid in up to 18 monthly interest‑free instalments, giving you the freedom to spread costs over time as you progress through your studies.

This flexibility helps you align educational ambitions with your financial priorities, so you can move forward with confidence and clarity.

Why This Programme Matters for Professionals in Tokyo

Tokyo thrives at the forefront of technology, mobility, and digital innovation. With this research-focused programme, you will strengthen your ability to design studies, interrogate data, and communicate evidence-based recommendations—capabilities prized across electronics, robotics, AI, fintech, and advanced manufacturing. The result: you can drive initiatives that deliver measurable outcomes and thought leadership in fast-moving sectors.

Strategic transformation and sustainability are reshaping energy, infrastructure, automotive, and supply chains. By mastering research design and critical evaluation, you will be equipped to analyse complex systems, assess emerging risks, and validate new business models—skills that complement leadership roles in major corporates and high-growth ventures alike. Your research outputs can support executive decisions, board reporting, and policy alignment.

Tokyo is also a hub for knowledge creation, with opportunities across universities, healthcare, policy, and think tanks. Strengthening your scholarly rigour and publication-ready communication through this programme can enhance your profile for roles that require methodological precision, literature fluency, and analytical depth—bridging academic standards with real-world relevance.

Delivered in Exclusive Partnership

This online programme is offered in exclusive partnership between University of Gloucestershire and Robert Kennedy College. You benefit from the academic quality and British awarding tradition alongside a modern, digital-first learning experience designed for working professionals.

From the first module to your final submission, the emphasis is on developing a robust, internationally applicable research skillset that elevates your credibility and expands your career options—without pausing your life in Tokyo.

Take the Next Step

Your research can change the way organisations think and act. If you are ready to accelerate your expertise and impact—while studying from Tokyo on your schedule—start by exploring the details. Request our course catalogue to discover curriculum highlights, entry criteria, and how this programme can fit your goals.